When I posted about "Ribhu Gita" on 15th instant, I mentionedabout three books on advaita, which Bhagavan, often referred toand recommended. On 16th instant, I posted about "Kailvalya Navaneeta". The third book is Yoga Vasishta. The original "BruhatYoga Vasishta" or "Yoga Vasishta Maha Ramayana" is of 32,000Sanskrit couplets, attributed to Valmiki. It is a dialogue betweenSage Vasishta and Rama, on advaita particularly on the purestform of Ajata vada. A Kashmiri Pandit, Abhinanda Bharati condensed it into 6000 Sanskrit couplets and called it Laghu Yoga Vasishta. A further condensation of this work was made long ago, by an unknownauthor into about 230 couplets. Bhagavan used to refer to YogaVasishata frequently and has even incorporated 6 couplets from it inHis "Supplement to Forty Verses". These are verses 21 to 27. ATamil version and an English prose translation are available in Ramansramam. This information may be useful for fellow Forum-members. Members/devotees living in Europe and America can inform any other transalations available in their countries. ArunachalaSiva.

After I posted about "Kaivalya Navaneeta" on 16th instant, "non duel" repied stating that this book is available in North America, through Arunachala Ashrama. This mademe to write about "Ribhu Gita", about which I originally posted on 15th instant. A beautiful free verse English translation of Ribhu Gita, is available from Society of Abidancein Truth, 1834 Ocean Street, Santa Ctuz, California 95060 USA.Phone (831) 425-7287. Arunachala Siva.

Kaivalya Navaneeta (The Cream of Emancipation) is an advaitatreatise, written in Tamil, about 500 years back, by one TandavarayaSwamigal, who hailed from Southern Tamilnadu. The Englishtranslation is available in Ramansramam. It is one of many bookstranslated in German, during 19th century. This book comprisesof 283 verses and has been recommended by Bhagavan to manydevotees and seekers. I request my Fellow-Forum members tofind access to this great book and read. Arunachala Siva.

Bhagavan Ramana, on many occasions recommended three bookson Advaita, to seekers and devotees. These are: Jnana Vasishta,Ribhu Gita and Kaivalya Navaneetham. Ribhu Gita is embedded in"Siva Rahasyam", an epic, as advice from Shiva, to Skanda, who inturn advised it to his disciples. It is a dialogue between Ribhu and Nidagha. The original Sanskrit poem has been translated by one SriBhikshu Sastrigal, also known as Ulaganatha Swamigal, a 19th century Saiva Siddhanta Jnani, into a beautiful Tamil poem of 1924verses. Once Bhagavan presented a copy of Tamil Ribhu Gita, to Smt. Sampurnamma, for reading and when she wanted to beexcused on the ground that she did not understand a word of it,Bhagavan persisted and asked her to read it all the same. "It doesnot matter that you do not understand," He said, "Still it will benefityou." Thus Smt. Sampurnamma's life, which had the full potential of becoming one of sorrow and grief, was transformed in to an active and spiritualized way of life. The English version, published by Society of Abidance in Truth, California, is available for Rs 200.00 from SriRamanasramam and a beautiful Tamil version, is also availablefor Rs 100.00. The Tamil version has been published by SriRamanasramam, itself. I have started reading the Tamil poems, and it is very satisfying. I request the fellow Forum-members, to get the book and read and share their experiences.

David Godman is informing in his website, that he is planning a project of translating Muruganar's Tamil work, "Ramana Pada Malai"a composition of of thousands of verses, describing the grace, love,compassion and protection that is gained through Ramana's "Padam"that is, His hallowed Feet. The website contains a lot of information and there are various comments about the work by those who have read the Tamil original. Bhagavan's Feet is sure to confer variousbenefits to seekers who practice self-enquiry. I request comments from fellow Forum-members after reading this website and also fromthose who have read the original Tamil work. The web address is:www.davidgodman.org. Arunachala Siva.

Dear "knowone", Bhagavan Ramana, is an ocean of grace, love and concern for all living beings. On 14th April 1950, a couple of hoursbefore his Maha Niravana, from His bed, when He heard the cooing of peococks, He asked the attendants: "Have the peacocks been fed?"Again, on the same evening, when one Telugu speaking devotee with sobbing and tears, asked : "Abhayam i.e.Protection, please" , He saidin Telugu: "Icchenu", meaning "I have given!" Arunachala Siva.

dear "aparnank", staying permanently within the Ashram is notpossible. But you can be in the town and visit the ashram asas possible everyday. Regarding staying etc., I have given somedetails to "knowone" through this Forum. Please see the postingsand these may help you also.

Dear knowone, as far as I know there is no Indian law, confiscatingproperty bought by foreigners, but there is a need to get prior approval for any non-resident Indian to buy property in India. Thisis not difficult for any genuine NRI buyer. But, since Tiruvannamalaiis attracting western seekers in large numbers, the property inTiruvannamalai is sought after very much. This has given rise to a good number of unreliable agents who dupe the foreign nationals.Hence, one has to be very careful. Please seek the advices of Ramansramam, who can guide you, not through this Forum, but through their separate e mail address: ashram@ramana-maharshi.org.With best wishes, Arunachala Siva.

You can definitely stay in Tiruvannamalai, for a lifetime, if RamanaWills. As an initial one time expenditure, you may have to buy asmall apartment, in Tiruvannamalai (You cannot stay for ever insidethe Ashram), for Rs 0.50 million (approx. US$ 12000.00).2. You may have to get acclimitized to the tropic weather -ranging between 35 to 45 degrees celsius. 3. You may have to get used to tropical South Indian rice food, hotbut tasty and water which is not sensitized. 3. Clothing is your choice, but Indian cotton clothes are the bestsuited, no suits, overcoats, woolen sweaters and shoes.

All these will happen to you, if there is Ramana's Will. In fact,I saw recently many many "foreigners" who are thoroughly enjoying the stay in that divine place. The touring westerners andstaying westerners are increasing in numbers every day.

I think semantics have sprouted in my case, only after Istarted posting in the Forum. Earlier I was reading onlyBhagavan Ramana. These writings were not there. In fact,everytime I write something, I used to ask Bhagavan, "Is itnot my ego's mischief?" Only thing I want to clarify is thatthe breathing is essential whether one says that is is the actof the mind or not. While eating, clothing or sleeping can be posponed or avoided, breathing cannot be postponed or avoided. Bhagavan says in Who am I? : "In sleep, breathingtakes place due to God's will, so that the onlookers may notdoubt that the man is dead." Arunachala Siva.

Manickavachagar is a great Saivite saint, who wrote two groups of poems called Thiruvachakam and Thirukkovaiyar. The first one is again a collection of 51 subgroups of poems, about his life and his Siva-experience. Bhagavan liked this work very much and it was oneHis faourite works. He used to refer to this often in His talks and conversations. Bhagavan has said that Thiruvachakam has to beexperienced and one should not try to understand this thorugh intellectual knowledge. I am reading Thiruvachakam since 1990.I had a practice of reading one sub-group per day. I went throughDavid Godman's website www.davidgodman.org. today and was delighted to find an extensive article on the above topic, narratingBhagavan's various talks which covered Thiruvachakam. Muruganar'sRamana Sannidhi Murai and Guruvachaka Kovai, are patterned onthe above two groups of poems by Manickavachakar. David has alsogiven a translation of Siva Puranam, the first poem of Thiruvchakam,after the translation of Ramana Puranam of Muruganar. I want thiswebsite to be seen by the members and also their reaction on Thiruvchakam, if some of them had read this book of divine poetry.Arunachala Siva.

Dear non-duel, In the same context, I suggest you read"Day by Day with Bhagavan" by Mr. Devaraja Mudaliar, which covers another 3 to 4 years of His life and teachings.Summing up, Bhagavan says:

1. "I" is more potent than even "OM" the Hindu Pravana Mantra, which is the primordial mantra for invoking the gods and Brahman. It is the same as what Abraham tellsin the Bible.

2. The jiva (individual), gods and the world are mere imaginations. All are forms of Siva or Brahman. Brahman stays in the Heart and is indicated by "I". It remains there duringwakeful, dream and sleep states. When one dies, the mindtakes 'prana' (breath) with it and leaves for another birth, hell or heaven. The mind carries the 'vasanas' (latencies) ofthe birth. When mind is annihilated, one is Brahman.

In 'Who am I?', Bhagavan says: "Desirelessness is wisdom. The twoare different. They are the same. Desirelessness is refraining fromturning the mind towards any object. Wisdom means the appearanceof no object. In other words, not seeking what is other than the Selfis detachment or desirelessness. Not leaving the Self is wisdom."By the words, "not seeking what is other than the Self", Bhagavan implies "seeking only the Self.". But " seeking the Self " is not a desire, but shedding of the undesirables. But for this process, one shouldhave some essential desires. Bhagavan did not eat for more than20 days in Patala Lingam Cave. He, while in His body, was wearingonly a cod-piece. He never wore sandals in His life. But, He did notdisapprove food, clothes and sandals for the seekers. Even thesedesires might go, when you "Be the self' because desirelessness iswisdom. When once one knows the Truth, every other thing is a lie.Till such time, there will be lies, brutal lies et al. Arunachala Siva.

Dear non-duel, I agree with you. What Sri Atmananda Menon called as 'dreaming in waking' state, is the 'sleepless sleep' of Bhagavan Ramana. In Upadesa Saram, Bhagavan mentioned allthe four paths of karma, bhakti, yoga and jnana. I believe they are all inter-woven. desireless karma, bhakti to the Heart within, yoga of simply watching the breath, and jnana of staying in theAbsolute are inseparably coexistent in a jnani. Bhagavan did kichen chores by waking up at 2.30 AM, made a nice stick for theshepherd on the Hill, read books on bhakti and showed infinitecompassion even towards the lowly, and ever stayed in Self.I have not read Sadhu Om, but I am reading a little bit of classicalTamil poems of Muruganar. I want to buy Sri Sadhu Om's books. Arunachala Siva.

Dear mick, I can never question your belief. Bhagavan Ramanais a different person, when He was in body. He never wore sandalsin His life. He never wore ochre robes. All His readings and writingswere after He realized. It is like someone suddenly appearing on thetop of a hill and then descending to the foothill to tell others Hisexperience atop the hill. We are all on the foothills, trying various ways, various books, various Gurus, transcedental meditation andother types, shifting from one way to another and so on. Eventually,if the goal is achieved, the ways are forgotten. Is it not? Arunachala Siva.